Wheelchair Accessible Beacheson Cape Cod

Navigating across loose sand poses an epic challenge for anyone who relies on a wheelchair, a cane, crutches, or a walker to get around.

For those with limited mobility, Cape Cod's wheelchair accessible beaches make it possible to get right to the water's edge ... and beyond.

About Wheelchair Access at Cape Cod Beaches

Thanks in large part to the generosity of wonderful organizations like SMILE Mass (smilemass.org), dozens of beaches across Cape Cod have been equipped with special assistive devices that are available for use during the summer months.

Mobi-Chair Floating Wheelchairs

Using a MobiChair floating wheelchair, anyone - no matter how limited their mobility might be - can enjoy a cooling dip on a hot summer day.

"Mobi-Chair"

Beach Wheel Chairs

These are over-sand chairs. They don't float. Instead, they're built to roll on pavement, boardwalks, and across the beach.

Over-Sand Wheelchair at Red River Beach in Harwich

Important: Beach wheelchairs are available only when attendants are on duty.

Here on the Cape, most beach attendants are college kids, home on summer break from mid-June to mid-August.

If you be here in early June or late August, be sure to call ahead to ensure that an attendant will be on duty and a beach wheelchair will be available! (Phone numbers provided below.)

Boardwalks, Ramps and Mobi-Mats

At many beaches on Cape Cod, a system of boardwalks, ramps, or hard-surfaced mats provide a stable surface for wheelchairs to navigate on top of the sand.

These access points also come in handy for folks who use a cane, crutches, or a walker. And for moms and dads pushing strollers, too!

Wheelchair Ramp at Skaket Beach in Orleans

MobiMat to Race Point Beach in Provincetown

Wheelchair Accessible vs. "Wheelchair Practical" Beaches

I learned a lot while doing my research for this page. Perhaps most importantly, I discovered that ...

There's a big difference between a beach that's technically accessible (because it has a Mobi-mat, for example) and one that's easily accessible.

This realization hit me like a ton of bricks one day, when I went to snap some photos at a beach that's widely promoted as "handicap accessible".

What did I find? A brand new Mobi-mat ... laid over a steep dune.

I'm sure it's possible to maneuver a wheelchair along that mat. But why hassle with the hill, especially when there's an easier-to-access beach nearby?!

Other Services Available at the Cape's Accessible Beaches

Unless I've noted otherwise, these amenities and services are available (in-season only) at the beaches shown below:

Designated handicap parking

Accessible restroom facilities

Beach and/or floating wheelchairs

Mobi-mat, ramps or boardwalk

Lifeguards

Snack bar or mobile food vendor

The Best Accessible Beaches on Cape Cod

The beaches you'll see below (one in each of our 15 Cape Cod towns) are the best, most easily accessible as a practical matter.

Old Silver Beach

Facing the warm, calm waters of Buzzards Bay, Old Silver is easily one of the prettiest beaches in the town of Falmouth.

Old Silver Beach in Falmouth MA

Wheelchair access is via a ramp. There's very little grade to navigate across the beach and a gentle slope into the water.

In season, amenities include restrooms, bathhouse, a snack bar and lifeguards. Handicap parking spaces are limited at this very popular beach. So it's a good idea to get there as early in the day as possible.

To reserve an oversand chair or Mobi-chair, call (508) 548-8623.

Note: In-season parking requires a daily fee or a beach parking sticker issued by the Town of Falmouth.

To reserve a beach wheelchair or for more information about Waquoit Bay Reserve, call (508) 457-0495.

Important: There are two parking lots at South Cape Beach. One is managed by the town and is for town residents only in-season. The other lot is managed by the state and is open to everyone in-season (parking fee/pass required). For beach wheelchair accessibility, the state-managed lot is the one you want.

Kalmus Beach

No matter what time of year you're here, a day in Hyannis should always include a visit to Kalmus Beach!

Kalmus Beach in Hyannis MA

This "two-sided" beach has great views of Hyannis Yacht Club and Lewis Bay from one side, and open views of the famous Kennedy Compound and Nantucket Sound from the other.

Wooden boardwalks lead from the parking lot to the beach, rest rooms, changing facilities and snack facilities. A Mobi-Chair is available during the summer months for anyone who wants to enjoy the warm, placid waters that lap the Kalmus Beach shoreline.

For Mobi-Chair reservations, call (508) 790-6345.

Note: In-season parking requires a daily fee or a parking sticker issued by the Town of Barnstable.

Bank Street Beach

As you can see in the photo below, Bank Street is a spacious beach with great open-water views. It's one of my favorite beaches in the town of Harwich.

Bank Street Beach in Harwich MA

At Bank Street, it's quite easy to get from the parking lot to the wood boardwalk and onto the beach. There's virtually no grade change at all from pavement to sand, and very little slope from the beach to the water.

During the summer months, Bank Street Beach has lifeguards, a mobile food concession, and restroom facilities that are accessible via a ramp.

There are 3 beach wheelchairs available for use at all Brewster beaches: 2 Mobi-chairs and one oversand chair. One of the Mobi's remains at Long Pond all summer. The other two chairs are available for loan at the Council on Aging.

To reserve a chair, call the Council at (508) 896-2737.

Important: Borrowed chairs must be picked up and returned to the Council on Aging at 1673 Main Street in Brewster. The Mobi folds up for easy transport. The sand chair does not. A $10 donation is requested for loan of a chair.

Skaket Beach

From Skaket's ample parking lot, a ramp winds gradually down toward the shoreline ... to a beach that "grows" exponentially as the tide goes out and the sandflats appear.

Skaket Beach in Orleans MA

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That's a mom pushing a stroller across the sandflats at Skaket Beach.

Now, that's what I call a wheel-able beach!

Seasonal services at Skaket include a snack bar, restrooms, outdoor rinse-off showers, and lifeguards. A Mobichair is available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Note: On the Atlantic Ocean side of town in Orleans, Nauset Beach is also accessible by people with disabilities via a rampway over the dunes. Just be aware that the surf at Nauset can be quite rough at times - not suitable for anyone who isn't a strong swimmer.

Yes, Coast Guard one of the most magnificent beaches on all of Cape Cod. It's wheelchair accessible. And it has services that First Encounter lacks, such as lifeguards and "real" restrooms.

But remember, we're talking about practicality here.

At First Encounter, parking is on beach level. At Coast Guard, the lot sits high above the shore, and handicap access to the beach is via a long, sloping boardwalk. IMHO, that makes Coast Guard more of an effort to access with a wheelchair.

Mayo Beach

As glorious as Wellfleet's ocean-side beaches are, the simple truth is: they're inaccessible by anyone who's not able to climb a steep set of stairs or a shifting wall of sand.

That's why my choice for the most easily accessible beach in Wellfleet is Mayo Beach, on the Cape Cod Bay side of town.

Mayo Beach in Wellfleet MA

Mayo isn't a large beach, by any means. But it's family friendly, and it's a nice place to spend a little time enjoying the sun, the salt air, and the scenery. It's also fun to watch the oystermen tending their traps at low tide.

Seasonal services at Mayo Beach are limited. It's lifeguarded during the summer, and a beach wheel chair is available by advance reservation. Call (508) 349-9818 as far in advance as possible to reserve.

FYI: Food (including fresh-from-the-sea Wellfleet oysters) is available across the street at Bookstore Restaurant, or right around the corner at the pier.

Corn Hill Beach

Corn Hill RoadTruro MA(508) 487-6983

Truro is also blessed with some of the most spectacular beaches on all of Cape Cod. Unfortunately, the thing that makes Truro's shoreline so breathtaking - the towering dunes - also makes many Truro beaches a challenge to get to.

One notable exception is Corn Hill Beach on the Cape Cod Bay side of town.

Corn Hil Beach in Truro MA

Although Corn Hill does have a bit of an incline to navigate on the way to the water, it's do-able via a ramp from the paved parking lot to the high tide line. Corn Hill also has a mobi-mat that makes the going easier for those who use a wheelchair, cane, walker or crutches.

The beach isn't lifeguarded. But there are accessible rest room facilities (porta-potty), and beach wheelchairs are available at Corn Hill daily, in season.

Herring Cove Beach

Rt. 6A and Provincelands RoadProvincetown MA(800) 809-1750

Provincetown is graced with two wonderful, accessible beaches - Race Point and Herring Cove.

As much as I adore Race Point for its wide-open spaces and incredible vistas, I have to go with Herring Cove here ... simply because Herring Cove has more helpful features for folks with physical challenges.

Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown MA

Seasonal amenities at Herring Cove include accessible restroom facilities, changing rooms, and showers that'll accommodate a wheelchair. There's a snackbar, and the beach is lifeguarded in the summer months.

Access from the parking area to the beach is via sidewalks and ramps.

FYI: Although there have been some major storm wash-outs in Herring Cove's parking lot and seawall over the last few winters, repairs are made as quickly as possible.